Leonard Larry

Smith

Leonard Larry Smith passed away Tuesday afternoon, July 14, 2015 of congestive heart failure. Larry went peacefully at his home in rural Shannon County, Missouri achieving the age of 78 years. Larry was born on December 4, 1936 in Arcadia, Missouri to Leonard and Myrtle (Phillips) Smith. He grew up in Hillsboro, Missouri. After graduating from Hillsboro High School, at the age of 17, he joined the United States Navy. For the next 20 years, Larry traveled the world on several carriers. He retired from the Navy in 1975 as a Chief Personnelman. Larry married twice, but with his second marriage he found the love of his life in Sherrill (Sheri) Lee Grimes. They married on June 14, 1985 in the Naval Chapel at Belle Chase, Louisiana. After his second retirement, he and Sheri headed for his family farm in the former community of Deslet, west of Ellington, Missouri. Together they restored the house and farmland with a tremendous amount of labor and love, which today is known as the Homeport Inn. Aside from life on the farm, Larry enjoyed driving and restoring classic cars, traveling, and Happy Hour. He was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Eminence Methodist Church.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, and two sisters Beverly Sekyra and Vivian Perriguey.

Larry is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Sheri of the home in Ellington, Missouri; one step-daughter Tina Marie Smith of Birmingham, Alabama; two sisters Anna Ruth Taylor of St. Louis, Missouri and Janice Weiberg and husband William of Imperial, Missouri; one brother-in-law Donald Perriguey and wife Jackie of Springfield, Missouri; one grandson Dalton Cole Smith; two granddaughters Alexis Marie Smith and Bailey Marie Smith. He also leaves a daughter from his previous marriage, Lynda Marie Miller and grandson, Colton Garrett Miller, both of Potosi, Missouri. Larry will be deeply missed by his family and many friends who will mourn his passing.

Services will be held Sunday, July 19, 2015. Visitation is 1:00-3:00 PM. Funeral Services led by Marvin Richards 3:00 PM at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington, Missouri. Procession led by the Honor Guard to the land that he loved. Burial and military service located at the Phillips-Deslet Cemetery. Afterwards, happy hour will begin at the Homeport Inn in honor of Larry's chill time, followed by dinner and music provided by Friends Pickin.
Pallbearers: Bill Wieberg, Daryl Smith, Daniel Prentice, Marty Baysinger, Jim Pobst, Bryan Reece
Honorary Pallbearers: Trudy Smith Flanagan, Randy Long, Doug Smith
Arrangements by McSpadden Funeral Home, Ellington, Missouri
In lieu of flowers: Casa Guadalupe Domestic Violence Shelter, Phillips-Deslet Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, or Ellington Chamber of Commerce (for the purchase of flags or fireworks for the 2016 community display)